Messier 60

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Messier 60
250px
M60 by Hubble Space Telescope; 3.33′ view
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation Virgo[1]
Right ascension 12h 43m 39.6s[2]
Declination +11° 33′ 09″[2]
Redshift 0.003726[2]
Helio radial velocity 1117 ± 6 km/s[2]
Distance (comoving) 16.8 ± 1.2 Mpc
Distance 55 ± 4 Mly (16.8 ± 1.2 Mpc)[3]
Type E2[2]
Apparent dimensions (V) 7′.4 × 6′.0[2]
Apparent magnitude (V) 9.8[2]
Other designations
M60, NGC 4649,[2] UGC 7898,[2] PGC 42831[2]
Arp 116,[2] GC 3182.[2]
See also: Galaxy, List of galaxies

Messier 60 (also known as NGC 4649) is an elliptical galaxy approximately 55 million light-years away[3] in the constellation Virgo. It is part of a pair of galaxies known as Arp 116 with NGC 4647.[4]

History

Messier 60 and the nearby galaxy Messier 59 were both discovered by Johann Gottfried Koehler in April 1779 during observations of a comet in the same part of the sky.[5] Charles Messier listed both in the Messier Catalogue about three days after Koehler's discovery.[5]

Neighbourhood

Overlapping galaxy NGC 4647

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Main article: Arp 116

NGC 4647 appears approximately 2′.5 away from Messier 60; the optical disks of the two galaxies overlap. Although this overlap suggests that the galaxies are interacting, photographic images of the two galaxies do not reveal any evidence for gravitational interactions between the two galaxies as would be suggested if the two galaxies were physically close to each other.[6] This suggests that the galaxies are at different distances and are only weakly interacting if at all.[6] However, recent studies by the Hubble Space Telescope show indications that tidal interactions may have just begun.[4] The pair together is collectively known as Arp 116 (APG 116).[4]

Satellites

M60 has several satellite galaxies. One of them is the ultracompact dwarf galaxy M60-UCD1.[7]

Virgo Cluster membership

M60 is the third-brightest giant elliptical galaxy of the Virgo cluster of galaxies, and is the dominant member of a subcluster of four galaxies, which is the closest-known isolated compact group of galaxies.

Supernovae

In 2004, supernova SN 2004W was observed in Messier 60.[8]

Black Hole

At the center of M60 is a black hole of 4.5 billion solar masses, one of the largest ever found.[9]

Gallery

  • Arp116 Hubble.jpg

    Arp 116 is composed of a giant elliptical galaxy known as Messier 60, and a much smaller spiral galaxy, NGC 4647.

  • M60s.jpg

    M60 and NGC 4647

  • Messier 60 - Hubble (2013-9-24).jpg

    M60 and the region around it, including the ultra-compact dwarf galaxy M60-UCD1.

See also

References

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External links

Coordinates: Sky map 12h 43m 39.6s, +11° 33′ 09″

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  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ [1] Supernova 2004W in M60
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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